Buckle



July 5, 1938. P F ZETNlCK 2,122,506

` BUCKLE Filed Aug. lO, 1936 Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE of Delaware Application-August 10, 1936, Serial No. 95,049

Claims.

This invention relates to a slide buckle and has special reference to a device adapted to be mounted on belts, straps, and the like, for the support of garments or other objects on the person, or for otherwise detachably securing articles together.

More particularly, this invention relates to a slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames in which one frame thereof has side bars and cross bars connecting the side bars with one lo of the cross bars presenting a strap-engaging face inclined relative to the plane of the frame, the other of the frames comprising portions connected in face-to-face spaced relation with opposed edges thereof overlying the side bars of the -rst mentioned frame rto be guided in a longitudinal movement thereby. One end of the connected portions has a strap-receiving slot, the other end thereof being inclined in the direction of the inclined cross bar of the other frame for co-operating therewith to clamp a strap threaded therebetween and through the strap-receiving slot in various adjusted positions as desired.

The device of the present invention is adaptable for use with various types of objects, particularly on the person, and may be employed with slight variations not departing from the spirit of the invention, universally where detachable connections are desired to be made. However, in the drawing and in the following description, the slide buckle will be described and shown in its associa tion with a strap of a shoe and with a belt, one of the frames being fiXedly attached to one end of the belt or to one end of the strap of the shoe, the other free end of the belt or shoe strap being threaded between co-operating slidably engaged frames for clamping the belt or strap relatively thereto. It will, of course, be readily apparent that various other uses may be made and that this invention is not to be limited to the specific uses herein described and illustrated.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames of the type hereinabove described in which the strap threaded therethrough may be conveniently and easily adjusted in either direction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames of the character named above in which the` construction may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, may be durable and simple in construction, and simple in threading and manipulation.

`Other objects and advantages will hereinafter bev more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of one form of buckle embodying the features of this invention, the buckle being attached to a strap of a shoe;

Fig, 2 is a front elevational View of a buckle embodying the features of this invention, the buckle being attached to a belt and the belt being fragmentarily shown;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the free end of the strap removed from the buckle;

Fig. i is a lateral sectional View taken on the 15 line 4 4 of Fig. 3 with the belt removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 prior to a clamping engagement of the slidably engaged frames with the strap; 20

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the belt in a clamped condition between the slidably engaged frames of the buckle;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the frame members of the slidable buckle of this invention; 25 and Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the other frame member of the buckle of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 2 to 8 thereof, the construction 30 therein shown comprises a pair of frame members iii and il, the frame member l0 being preferably substantially rectangular and having side bars l2 and I3 connected together by cross bars lli and l5. The frame member Il comprises por- 35 tions connected in a face-to-face spaced relation and is preferably formed of a strip folded transversely on a line intermediate the ends thereof to provide portions IS and l1. The opposed edges I8 and i9 of the folded strip overlie the side bars 40 i2 and i3 of the frame l or preferably the ears 2l] and 2l, respectively thereof, projecting inwardly therefrom in a direction toward each other.

The cross bar l5 of the frame ID is preferably 45 formed to present a relatively wide strap-engaging face which is inclined relative to the general plane of the frame. The frame Il is provided with a strap-receiving slot 22 adjacent a preferably enlarged end of the connected portion I6 50 of the folded strip and the other projecting end 23 of the connected portion I1 thereof being inclined with respect to the main portion of the frame and in substantially the same direction as the inclined cross bar l5 of the other frame. 55

In order to maintain a spaced relation between the face-to-face portions It and il of the folded strip, a pair of longitudinally extending projections 24 and 25 are preferably slit and deformed from the material forming one face I6 of the strip to extend for engagement with the opposed face il of the strip. The longitudinally extending projections 2d and 25 lie adjacent the ears 2@ and 2l, respectively. The ears 26 and 2l therefore prevent lateral displacement of the frame Il relative to the frame Iii and permits relative longitudinal movement therebetween. rIhe overlying opposed edges I8 and I9 prevent displacement of the frame il from the frame i in the other direction.

The cross bar lli of the frame l@ is preferably displaced outwardly from the plane of the frame to a slight extent to accommodate the width of a strap, the cross bar providing for the attachment of the buckle permanently to one end of a belt or strap.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, one end 2t of a belt 2l is looped about the cross bar l@ and is permanently secured thereto by a fastener 23. The fastener is said to be a permanent connection in a relative sense only since it is to be understood that the buckle may be removed from the strap if it is so desired by detaching the clasp. The belt 2l is positioned about the object or person, the free end of the belt passing through a slot 22 and thence between the cooperating cross bars l5 and 23 of the frames iii and ll, respectively. The end of the strap 2l resting against the outer end il of the frame E! may be passed through loops 29 secured adjacent the end 25 of the strap.

In the position of the buckle frames shown in Fig. 5, the strap is free to be adjusted in either direction, the slot 22 in the frame il resting beneath or adjacent the opening of the frame lli so that no clamping action is obtained between the incline-d cross bars. However, when it is desired to clamp the strap in an adjusted position, a tension on the free end of the strap 2l provides a relative longitudinal movement of the frame members in opposite directions, the frame lll being held against movement while the frame il .moves in a direction such that the inclined cross bar 23 co-operates with the inclined cross bar i5 to clamp the strap between the co-operating faces thereof. The framev li moves longitudinally in its guide in a converging direction with the inclined cross bar l5 so that the greater the relative movement between the inclined members i5 and 23, the lesser the space between the cross members, and when the space therebetween is the same or less than the normal width of the strap, the strap will become clamped.

Aside from the usual clamping action between the inclined cross bars l5 and 23, another force is presented since it will be noted that the supporting means 2@ for maintaining the spaced relation between the folded portions of the strip does not extend to support the inclined exten-ding portion 23 thereof. Therefore, when the strap is pulled taut, there will be the added resiliency of the metal bearing against the strap because of the unsupported condition of the projecting inclined co-operating surfaces.

As a result of this invention, the buckle may be readily employed on a belt or other support, since it is very simple to thread the end of the belt through the buckle and, thereafter, is very simple to manipulate for adjustment in various desiredy positions to which a belt is subjected.

Should it be desired, however, tofemploy the buckle for a shoe in such a manner that the buckle would be positioned on the instep or centrally of the shoe, the frame of the buckle should be of a symmetrical design. For example, if the buckle were to be positioned on the side of a shoe, then a frame, such as that illustrated in connection with Figs. 2 to 8, may be employed. However, were the buckle to be used on the center of a shoe or on the instep, a buckle, such as that disclosed in Fig. 1, may be preferable, the only difference between the buckles of Fig. 1 and the other gures being that the frame I is provided with a wing 15a which has the same appearance as the wing 15b, the wing 15b corresponding to the inclined cross bar l of the frame of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, one end 26a of a strap secured to a shoe extends `to be permanently fastened to the cross bar Ma, which latter bar corresponds to the cross bar I4 shown more particularly in Fig. '7, the portion 15a merely extending from and being part of the frame of which Illa is a cross bar. A slot |50 is provided between the cross bar 14a and the Wing [5a to permit the free end of a strap 21a to be threaded therethrough in order that the appearance value is enhanced, the wings I5a and l5?) being fully exposed and being symmetrical. The structural characteristics of'Fig. 1, therefore, are exactly the same as that described in Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, with the exception that both sides of the buckle frame are symmetrical.

While two embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames, one of said frames having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars, one of said cross bars presenting a strap-engaging face inclined relative to the plane of said frame, and the other of said frames comprising portions connected in a face-to-face spaced relation, the opposed edges of said portions overlying the side bars of the first mentioned frame to be guided in a longitudinal movementthereby, one end of one of said connected portions having a strapreceiving slot and one end of the other of said portions being inclined in the direction of the inclined cross bar of the other frame for cooperation therewith to clamp a strap threaded therebetween and through said strap-receiving slot in adjusted positions.

2. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames, one of said frames having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars, ears on said side bars extending inwardly toward each other, one of said cross bars presenting a strap-engaging face inclined relative to the plane of said frame, and the other of said frames comprising portions connected in a face-to-face spaced relation, the opposed edges of said portions overlying said ears to be guided in a longitudinal movement thereby, one end of one of said connected portions having a strap-receiving slot and one end of the other of said portions being inclined in the direction of the inclined cross bar of the other frame for co-operation therewith to clamp a strap threaded therebetween and through said strap-receiving slot in adjusted positions.

3. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames formed of sheet metal, one of said frames having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars, ears on said side bars extending inwardly toward each other, one of said cross bars presenting a strap-engaging face inclined relative to the plane of said frame, and the other of said frames comprising a continuous strip having a transverse fold at an intermediate portion to lie in a face-to-face spaced relation, a longitudinally extending projection slit and de-V formed from the material of one face of said strip to extend for engagement with the opposed face to maintain said spaced relation, the opposed edges of said faces overlying said ears to be guided in a longitudinal movement thereby, one end of one of said connected portions having a strap-receiving slot and one end of the other of said portions being inclined in the direction of the inclined cross bar of the other frame for cooperation therewith to clamp a strap threaded therebetween and through said strap-receiving slot in adjusted positions.

4. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames, one of said frames having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars, ears on said side bars extending inwardly toward each other, one of said cross bars presenting a strapengaging face inclined relative to the plane of said frame, and the other of said frames comprising portions connected in a face-to-face spaced relation, the opposed edges of said portions overlying said ears to be guided in a longitudinal movement thereby, supporting means between intermediate areas of said spaced faces to maintain said spaced relation, one end of one of said connected portions having a strap-receiving slot and an unsupported end of the other oi said portions being inclined in the direction of the inclined cross bar of the other frame for cooperation therewith to clamp a strap threaded therebetween and through said strap-receiving slot in adjusted positions.

5. A slide buckle comprising a pair oi slidably engaged frames, one of said frames having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars, one of said cross bars presenting a strap-engaging face inclined relative to the plane of said frame, and the other of said frames comprising portions connected in a face-to-face spaced relation, supporting means between intermediate areas of said spaced faces to maintain said spaced relation, the opposed edges of said portions overlying the side bars of the rst mentioned frame to be guided in a longitudinal movement thereby, one end of one of said connected portions having a strap-receiving slot and an unsupported end of the other of said portions being inclined in the direction of the inclined cross bar of the other frame for co-operation therewith to clamp a strap threaded therebetween and through said strapreceiving slot in adjusted positions.

PAUL F. ZETNICK. 

